Ahmedabad, June 1: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched their second consecutive IPL title on Sunday, defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets. Following the victory, Virat Kohli shared insights on when the team’s confidence returned this season.
In the title match held at Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans, batting first after losing the toss, scored 155 runs, losing eight wickets. Washington Sundar contributed significantly with a score of 50 runs, while Nishant Sandhu added 20 runs. For RCB, Rasikh Salam Dar was the standout bowler, taking three wickets.
In response, RCB chased down the target in just 18 overs. Kohli played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 75 runs off 42 balls, including 12 boundaries. Venkatesh Iyer supported with a valuable 32 runs, while Rashid Khan took two wickets for GT.
After the match-winning performance, Kohli remarked, “I felt there wasn’t the same pressure this time as there was last year. We were at the top of the points table and believed that if we executed our plans well, we would be the best.”
Kohli further stated, “The skill, composure, and maturity we displayed were remarkable. After the break, we faced a loss and had a narrow win against Mumbai Indians. That phase was tough, but after that victory, our confidence returned. We had to wait a long time. You don’t always have to shoulder the burden alone; there are many players around you. Our world-class bowlers, including Haff, Bhuvi, and Rasikh, performed excellently. Our team has both balance and strength.”
On the other hand, Krunal Pandya, who has won five trophies with different teams over the past 11 years, expressed pride in RCB’s achievement. Having secured three titles with Mumbai Indians, he said, “Winning consistently is a significant achievement. Winning five trophies in 11 years is special. Much of the credit goes to our support staff for their preparation before the auction. We won half the battle there. I’m thrilled we have retained this trophy for the second consecutive time. This victory is for all RCB fans and for Virat as well.”
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